US Ambassador: Keep Voters Registering as Long as PossibleChiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original Report from Phnom Penh
17 October 2007
Potential voters should have every chance available to register for impending national elections, US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said Tuesday.
Speaking from a neighborhood in Phnom Penh where he was observing the registration process, Mussomeli said the registration centers should stay open as long as possible to ensure that people who want to vote can.
Cambodia's elections were a chance for the country to demonstrate to its neighbors—including Burma—how democracy works, he said.
The Burmese junta has been roundly rebuked for its ongoing, violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.
"This is the chance for Cambodia to show many of its neighbors, especially Burma, and other countries, [the process of] a democratic election," he said. "Therefore Cambodia must ensure that the election will be free, fair and safe."
The ambassador told Cambodians through an interpreter that the registration process seemed to be going well.
Cambodia saw a huge plummet in voter numbers in this year's local elections, raising concern among monitors that the registration process was preventing people from voting.
The registration process has also come under fire from opposition groups who say laws and regulations tilt the process in favor of the ruling Cambodian People's Party.
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the government had "vowed" to make the elections free and fair.
"This is a position stated in the constitution," he said, "and no one has the right to change it."
Speaking from a neighborhood in Phnom Penh where he was observing the registration process, Mussomeli said the registration centers should stay open as long as possible to ensure that people who want to vote can.
Cambodia's elections were a chance for the country to demonstrate to its neighbors—including Burma—how democracy works, he said.
The Burmese junta has been roundly rebuked for its ongoing, violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.
"This is the chance for Cambodia to show many of its neighbors, especially Burma, and other countries, [the process of] a democratic election," he said. "Therefore Cambodia must ensure that the election will be free, fair and safe."
The ambassador told Cambodians through an interpreter that the registration process seemed to be going well.
Cambodia saw a huge plummet in voter numbers in this year's local elections, raising concern among monitors that the registration process was preventing people from voting.
The registration process has also come under fire from opposition groups who say laws and regulations tilt the process in favor of the ruling Cambodian People's Party.
Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the government had "vowed" to make the elections free and fair.
"This is a position stated in the constitution," he said, "and no one has the right to change it."
9 comments:
"Cambodia's elections were a chance for the country to demonstrate to its neighbors—including Burma—how democracy works, he said."
LOL, you excellency (Mussomeli), they (our neighbors) know how democracy work already. They know that many laws will get stuck in Dead-Lock, and the people will get stuck in poverty forever.
If Democracy results in "poverty forever", how do you explain countries that follow democractic principles has the most affluent populations while the poorest people tend to live in the most corrupted countries with kleptocractic leaders? Think beyond Cambodia to Africa, Latin America counties.
Which country with affluent population are you talking about?
if you talking about the US. Democracy did no got the US out of poverty. First, the US never was as poor as we are because they had ships to go to Africa to capture slaves and bring them back to work the land to make the US rich enough to industrialize ... . Do you get the picture?
Gentleman
May be Dr Khiev of MOI should take a long 365 days leave and have along hard look if he missed anything else, on our national constitution wether those have not been implemented.And also do not forget to attend KARAOKE meeting and drink plenty because they would help clear your mind up.Young girls can also be refreshing .
Neang SA
Well, if you want us to fully implement our constitution, then you'll have to send us lot of moneys to guarantee people all sorts of goodies from good education to hollywood life style, and that ain't free nor cheap.
I tell you: if the US et Al want to see democracy in Burma fast, the thing to do is to lift all economic sanctions against them, and allow them to grow. Once they grow to a certain point, perhaps when people get bare-bone care, they will start to reform to democracy by themselves because now they have no excuse not to do so.
Using economic sanction to pressure countries to democratize have not work since the 50's. It only harm the people. It is time to change the tactic that is more hopeful.
Anyone have objection to this proposal?
correction: ... It is time to change to a new tactic that is more hopeful.
And I challenge all white devils to stay the hell away from our hapless women and children!!!
Count me in, bro.
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